Liquid heating device

ABSTRACT

A liquid heating device includes a liquid storage barrel, a heating barrel, a discharging tube and a controller. The liquid storage barrel stores a liquid to be heated, and is provided with a control valve at its bottom part. The heating barrel is disposed at a space below the liquid storage barrel, and is provided with an entrance at its top end. The controller is connected to the control valve, and controls operations of the control valve to allow the liquid in the liquid storage barrel to pass through the control valve and enter the heating barrel through the entrance. An internal capacity of the liquid storage barrel is greater than an internal capacity of the heating barrel. The heating barrel includes an electric heating structure mainly formed by an electric heating element and an electric conducting line. The discharging tube is a tube connected to the heating barrel, and discharges the heated liquid from the heating barrel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a) Field of the Invention

The invention relates in general to heating equipment, and moreparticularly, to a liquid heating device for providing a heated liquid.

b) Description of the Prior Art

In various different medical, plant cultivation or ambient temperatureand humidity control environments, heated water is frequently needed,e.g., water for medical spray steam inhalers, irrigation water for theplant seedling cultivation stage, and water for humidifiers.

In the foregoing environments, water is used at a high frequency and ina small amount. A liquid heating device generally applied for heating iscapable of performing a one-time heating process for a large amount ofliquid. However, the processed liquid in a large amount may not bequickly consumed, hence wasting resources caused by heating.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To adapt to the application pattern of using a heated liquid at a highfrequency and in a small amount, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide a liquid heating device for providing a heatedliquid at a high frequency and in a small amount.

Thus, the present invention provide a liquid heating device comprises aliquid storage barrel, a heating barrel, a discharging tube and acontroller; wherein: the liquid storage barrel is a container forstoring a liquid to be heated, and is provided with a control valve at abottom part thereof; the heating barrel is disposed at a space below theliquid storage barrel, and is provided with an entrance at a top endthereof; the controller is connected to the control valve, and controlsoperations of the control valve to allow the liquid stored in the liquidstorage barrel to pass through the control valve and flow into theheating barrel through the entrance; an internal capacity of the liquidstorage barrel is greater than an internal capacity of the heatingbarrel; the heating barrel comprises an electric heating structure; theelectric heating structure is mainly formed by an electric heatingelement and an electric conducting line, and generates heat energy forheating the liquid in the heating barrel; the discharging tube is a tubeconnected to the heating barrel, and discharges the heated liquid fromthe heating barrel; and the controller is formed by an electromechanicalelement, is electrically connected to the electric heating structure,controls heating temperature and time of the electrical heatingstructure; the discharging tube is provided with a drain element, andthe controller is connected to the drain element to control operationsof the drain element.

The conduit is disposed between the liquid storage barrel and theheating barrel, and is in communication with the liquid storage barreland the heating barrel; the control valve is disposed at the conduit toaccordingly allow the liquid stored in the liquid storage barrel to flowinto the heating barrel.

The liquid heating device above-mentioned, wherein the pre-heatingstructure is provided at an exterior of the conduit; the pre-heatingstructure is mainly formed by the electric heating structure and theelectric conducting line, and generates heat energy for heating theliquid passing through the conduit; the controller is electricallyconnected to the pre-heating structure to control the heatingtemperature and time of the pre-heating structure.

The liquid heating device above-mentioned, wherein the electric heatingelement is a resistive heating element.

The liquid heating device above-mentioned, wherein the electric heatingelement is an electric heating plate or an electric heating coil.

The liquid heating device above-mentioned, wherein the electric heatingelement is an electromagnetic heating element.

The liquid heating device above-mentioned, wherein the electric heatingelement is an electromagnetic coil.

The liquid heating device above-mentioned, wherein the controllercomprises a programmable controller or a microprocessor.

The liquid heating device above-mentioned, wherein the drain element isa pump.

The liquid heating device above-mentioned, wherein the drain element isa tube valve.

The above and other aspects of the invention will become betterunderstood with regard to the following detailed description of thepreferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description ismade with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The above and other aspects of the invention will become betterunderstood with regard to the following detailed description of thepreferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description ismade with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1 showing a liquid heating device according to a firstembodiment of the present invention, the liquid heating device includesa liquid storage barrel 10, a conduit 20, a heating barrel 30, adischarging tube 40 and a controller 50. The liquid storage barrel 10 isa container that stores a pre-processed (e.g., filtered) liquid to beheated. The conduit 20 is disposed between the liquid storage barrel 10and the heating barrel 30, and is in communication with the liquidstorage barrel 10 and the heating barrel 30. An internal capacity of theliquid storage barrel 10 is greater than an internal capacity of theheating capacity 30, and the liquid stored in the liquid storage barrel10 is allowed to flow into the heating barrel 30. The heating barrel 30includes an electric heating structure (not shown) mainly formed by anelectric heating element and an electric conducting line. For example,depending on applications, the electric heating element may be selectedfrom a resistive heating element (e.g., an electric heating plate or anelectric heating coil), an electromagnetic heating element (e.g., anelectromagnetic heating coil used in an electromagnetic stove), or theelectric heating element in another form. The electric heating structuregenerates heat energy that accordingly heats the liquid in the heatingbarrel 30. Details of the configuration of the electric heatingstructure are generally known to one person having ordinary skill in theart, and shall be omitted herein. The discharging tube 40 is a tubeconnected to the heating barrel 30, and discharges the heated liquidfrom the heating barrel 30. The controller 50 is formed by anelectromechanical element, and may selectively include a programmablecontroller or a microprocessor. Further, the controller 50 iselectrically connected to the electric heating structure to accordinglycontrol heating temperature and time of the electric heating structure.Details of the configuration of the controller 50 are generally known toone person having ordinary skill in the art, and shall be omittedherein.

The conduit 20 includes a control valve 22. The controller 50, furtherconnected to the control valve 22, controls operations of the controlvalve 22 to accordingly control an on/off status of an internal flow ofthe conduit 20. The discharging tube 40 includes a drain element 42,which is a pump or a valve. The control 50, further connected to thedrain element 42, controls operations of the drain element 42 toaccordingly control the liquid in the heating barrel 30 to pass throughthe discharging tube 40 and to be discharged.

In the first embodiment, when the liquid heating process is performed,the controller 50 controls the control valve 22 to operate to cause theconduit 20 to be in an open state. The liquid stored in the liquidstorage barrel 10 passes through the conduit 20 and flows into theheating barrel 30. Next, the controller 50 controls the control valve 22to operate to cause the conduit 20 to be in a closed state, andactivates the electric heating structure to cause the electric heatingstructure to generate heat energy that heats the liquid in the heatingbarrel 30. After the liquid in the heating barrel 30 is heated to apredetermined temperature and a required heating time is maintained, thecontroller 50 controls the electric heating structure to stop operatingto complete the heating process, and activates the drain element 42 tooperate. Thus, the heated liquid in the heating barrel 30 is dischargedby the drain element 42 through the discharging tube 40 to serve forvarious purposes. Optimal values of operation parameters of theforegoing heating temperature and heating time may be determinedaccording to components of the liquid, and may be set and entered intothe controller 50 by a user.

Further, when the controller 50 includes the programmable controller orthe microprocessor, two different modes, a quantitative mode or a timedmode, may be performed through operations of the programmable controlleror the microprocessor.

In the quantitative mode, the controller 50 controls a volume of theliquid flowing into the heating barrel 30 through controlling an openperiod of the control valve 22 to accordingly quantitatively generatethe heated liquid, thereby satisfying an application requirement of ahigh frequency and a small amount.

In the timed mode, the controller 50 controls and keeps the controlvalve 22 open at a predetermined time to accordingly generate the heatedliquid in a timed manner. Alternatively, a time interval of opening thecontrol valve 22 is controlled to control the frequency of generatingthe heated liquid.

A second embodiment is provided as a variation from the foregoingembodiment. Details of structures in the second embodiment identical tothose in the first embodiment are omitted herein. As shown in FIG. 2,the second embodiment includes the liquid storage barrel 10, the conduit20, the heating barrel 30, the discharge tube 40 and the controller 50.A pre-heating structure 24 is provided at an exterior of the conduit 20,and is mainly formed by the electric heating element and the electricconducting line. For example, depending on applications, the heatingelement may be selected from the resistive heating element (e.g., theelectric heating plate or the electric heating coil), theelectromagnetic heating element (e.g., the electromagnetic heating coilused in the electromagnetic stove), or the electric heating element inanother form. Accordingly, the pre-heating structure 24 generates heatenergy for heating the liquid flowing through the conduit 20. Thus, thepre-heating structure 24 causes the liquid be heated before the liquidenters the heating barrel 30, such that the time needed for heating theliquid in the heating barrel 30 is reduced. The controller 50 iselectrically connected to the pre-heating structure 24, and accordinglycontrols the heating temperature and time of the pre-heating structure24.

A third embodiment is provided as a variation from the first embodiment.Details of structures in the third embodiment identical to those in thefirst embodiment are omitted herein. As shown in FIG. 3, the thirdembodiment includes the liquid storage barrel 10, the conduit 20, theheating barrel 30, the discharging tube 40 and the controller 50. Thedischarging tube 40 includes a drain element 42. The drain element 42 isa tube valve or a pump. The controller 50 is connected to the drainelement 42, and controls operations of the drain element 42 toaccordingly control the liquid in the heating barrel 30 to dischargethrough the discharging tube 40.

A fourth embodiment is provided as a variation from the firstembodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the fourth embodiment includes theliquid storage barrel 10, the heating barrel 30, the discharging tube 40and the controller 50. The liquid storage barrel 10 is a container forstoring the liquid to be heated, and includes the control valve 22 at abottom part. The heating barrel 30 is disposed at a space below theliquid storage barrel 10, and includes an entrance (not shown) at itstop end. The controller 50 is connected to the control valve 22, andcontrols operations of the valve 22 to accordingly control the liquid inthe liquid storage barrel 10 to pass through the control valve 22 andflow into the heating barrel 30 through the entrance. The internalcapacity of the liquid storage barrel 10 is greater than the internalcapacity of the heating barrel 30. The heating barrel 30 includes theelectric heating structure (not shown) mainly formed by the electricheating element and the electric conducting line. For example, dependingon applications, the heating element may be selected from the resistiveheating element (e.g., the electric heating plate or the electricheating coil), the electromagnetic heating element (e.g., theelectromagnetic heating coil used in the electromagnetic stove), or theelectric heating element in another form. Accordingly, the electricheating structure generates heat energy for heating the liquid in theheating barrel 30. Details of the configuration of the electric heatingstructure are generally known to one person having ordinary skill in thetechnical field of electric heating, and shall be omitted herein. Thedischarging tube 40 is a tube connected to the heating barrel 30, anddischarges the heated liquid from the heating barrel 30. The controller50 is formed by the electromechanical element, and may selectivelyinclude the programmable controller or the microcontroller. Thecontroller 50 is electrically connected to the electric heatingstructure to accordingly control the heating temperature and time of theelectric heating structure. Details of the configuration of thecontroller 50 are generally known to one person having ordinary skill inthe art, and shall be omitted herein.

The discharging tube 40 includes the drain element 42, which may beselected from the pump or the tube valve. The controller 50 is connectedto the drain element 42, and controls operations of the drain element 42to accordingly control the liquid in the heating barrel 30 to dischargethrough the discharging tube 40.

In the fourth embodiment, the conduit may be provided between the liquidstorage barrel and the heating barrel to form a fifth embodiment.

The conduit is in communication with the liquid storage barrel and theheating barrel. Further, the control valve is disposed at the conduit toallow the liquid stored in the liquid storage barrel to flow into theheating barrel.

As demonstrated by the above embodiments, the present invention iscapable of performing a liquid heating process at a high frequency andin a small amount to satisfy the application requirement of a highfrequency and in a small amount.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms ofthe preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention isnot limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover variousmodifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope ofthe appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadestinterpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similararrangements and procedures.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid heating device, comprising a liquidstorage barrel, a heating barrel, a discharging tube and a controller;wherein: the liquid storage barrel is a container for storing a liquidto be heated, and is provided with a control valve at a bottom partthereof; the heating barrel is disposed at a space below the liquidstorage barrel, and is provided with an entrance at a top end thereof;the controller is connected to the control valve, and controlsoperations of the control valve to allow the liquid stored in the liquidstorage barrel to pass through the control valve and flow into theheating barrel through the entrance; an internal capacity of the liquidstorage barrel is greater than an internal capacity of the heatingbarrel; the heating barrel comprises an electric heating structure, theelectric heating structure is mainly formed by an electric heatingelement and an electric conducting line, and generates heat energy forheating the liquid in the heating barrel; the discharging tube is a tubeconnected to the heating barrel, and discharges the heated liquid fromthe heating barrel; and the controller is formed by an electromechanicalelement, is electrically connected to the electric heating structure,controls heating temperature and time of the electrical heatingstructure, the discharging tube is provided with a drain element, andthe controller is connected to the drain element to control operationsof the drain element.
 2. The liquid heating device according to claim 1,wherein a conduit is disposed between the liquid storage barrel and theheating barrel, and is in communication with the liquid storage barreland the heating barrel; the control valve is disposed at the conduit toaccordingly allow the liquid stored in the liquid storage barrel to flowinto the heating barrel.
 3. The liquid heating device according to claim2, wherein a pre-heating structure is provided at an exterior of theconduit; the pre-heating structure is mainly formed by the electricheating structure and the electric conducting line, and generates heatenergy for heating the liquid passing through the conduit; thecontroller is electrically connected to the pre-heating structure tocontrol the heating temperature and time of the pre-heating structure.4. The liquid heating device according to claim 1, wherein the electricheating element is a resistive heating element.
 5. The liquid heatingdevice according to claim 4, wherein the electric heating element is anelectric heating plate or an electric heating coil.
 6. The liquidheating device according to claim 1, wherein the electric heatingelement is an electromagnetic heating element.
 7. The liquid heatingdevice according to claim 6, wherein the electric heating element is anelectromagnetic coil.
 8. The liquid heating device according to claim 1,wherein the controller comprises a programmable controller or amicroprocessor.
 9. The liquid heating device according to claim 1,wherein the drain element is a pump.
 10. The liquid heating deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the drain element is a tube valve.